AS Eid is nearing, the pace of shopping is picking up despite the fact that the ever-rising price curve has dampened people's enthusiasm. Yet the shopping centres have started attracting crowds. But the crowds are suffering badly because of traffic congestion in front of all shops and markets. Before the beginning of Ramadan, we were assured by the home ministry that in addition to uniformed police force, there would be plain clothed security personnel in all markets. But unfortunately the huge jam and undisciplined parking does not tell that there are security steps there. Main roads remain clogged till midnight because of the cars in front of the markets. And we can easily apprehend that the chaos would get worse in the days to come. The metropolis of Dhaka now has a chain of newly established luxurious shopping centres. These are called shopping malls, megashops, super-shops etc. Over the last few years these large stores have changed the face of the city lending to it the kind of metropolitan frill that it had so far been lacking. But the fact that many of them have not built their own parking space which has become a source of traffic annoyance. For the common man, of course, pavement shopping and hawkers market provide the only practicable outlets for any purchase during the festive occasion. In absence of organised hawkers' market in the city, here also the system is highly disordered. The footpaths or pavements are occupied and the pedestrians are forced to walk on the main road. There should be economy shops side by side with all luxurious shopping malls. Our shop builders or city planners never recognise the low-income group of people as the citizens of the city. There is no scope for low-budget people to buy peacefully. So ultimately the pressure comes on the main thoroughfares. We hope our city father will look into the matter seriously in the future. Zareen Rafa Niketon, Gulshan-1, Dhaka.
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